Billy Preston
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Billy Preston, the keyboardist who was dubbed "the Fifth Beatle" after his late-'60s stint accompanying the group, died Tuesday (June 6) at age 59 following a lengthy illness.

According to The Associated Press, Preston had been in a coma since last November as a result of kidney failure stemming from malignant hypertension. He died in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he had lived for the past few years.

A child prodigy, Preston spent his teenage years touring and/or recording with a host of acts, including gospel star Mahalia Jackson, soul legend Sam Cooke and rock pioneer Little Richard. It was while on tour with Richard that Preston first met the Beatles, and within a few years he was accompanying the group in the studio, playing keyboards and singing backing vocals on the band's final three albums, The White Album, Abbey Road and Let It Be (and earning him a nickname he'd carry with him for the rest of his days). On the latter album, he performed with the group during its brief-but-famous rooftop concert: the Beatles' final public performance. During the 1970s, he fulfilled a similar role with the Rolling Stones, playing on several of their albums and taking a prominent role in the band's live shows; he also contributed to the group's 1997 LP, Bridges to Babylon.

In a career that spanned five decades, Preston brought his immensely soulful keyboard work and singing to albums by Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, George Harrison, John Lennon, Sly and the Family Stone, Al Green, Ray Charles, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones and Joni Mitchell, among many others. In recent years he was frequently called upon by producer Rick Rubin, contributing to albums by Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Macy Gray and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; although very ill at the time, he performed on the latter group's recent album, Stadium Arcadium.

Preston also had a successful solo career (he was the first act signed to the Beatles' Apple Records), scoring several hits in the 70s, including "Nothing From Nothing" and "Will It Go Round in Circles." He also co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful to Me," which Joe Cocker turned into an international smash.

Preston went through a rough patch in the '80s and '90s, running into legal trouble on drug charges, insurance fraud and probation violations.

Preston continued performing until he fell ill last year. In 2005, he appeared on the season finale of "American Idol," performing his single "With You I'm Born Again" with Vonzell Solomon.

• Billy Preston
• The Beatles

Billy Preston
Photo: Universal

After spending a week in a Nashville area hospital being treated for end-stage kidney disease, Billy Preston is back home in Los Angeles and is set to rejoin Eric Clapton's touring band in early June.

After complaining of pain in his legs and missing a show in Memphis, Preston was taken by Clapton's private jet to a Nashville doctor May 23, according to Preston's manager, Joyce Moore. Severely anemic, the keyboardist and singer required four units of blood, and doctors told him he wouldn't have made it through the weekend had he not sought treatment.

Because of his kidney failure, Preston will require regular outpatient dialysis treatments, though he should only miss about 10 dates and plans to rejoin the tour in Boston on June 10, Moore said. Preston may seek a kidney transplant, though many patients are able to thrive for years on dialysis.

Though Preston scored several hit singles, including 1974's "Nothing From Nothing" and his 1979 duet with Syreeta, "With You I'm Born Again," he's perhaps best-known for providing the signature organ on the Beatles' "Get Back" and Let It Be, as well as recording and touring with the Rolling Stones in the '70s.

Through his manager, Preston thanked his fans for their prayers and good wishes. He added doctors were sure his kidney failure was a direct result of untreated high blood pressure.

• Billy Preston

November 5 [12:00 EDT] -- Beatle sideman Billy Preston is in jail as of Tuesday serving a three-year prison term for bail violation.

He had received a five-year suspended sentence in 1992 for assault with a deadly weapon and cocaine possession but apparently he hasn't been keeping his nose clean. The keyboardist was due in court later this month on another charge of cocaine possession.

Preston, 51, is best known for his session work with the Beatles and other veterans although he's also enjoyed a successful solo career. Most notably, he played organ on the Beatles' single "Get Back," wrote Joe Cocker's hit, "You Are So Beautiful," and had his own charttopper, "Nothing From Nothing."

• Billy Preston